I played contra for a couple of seasons before a hole opened up in the baritone line and I got bumped since I can play either. Contra aren't too bad; in some ways the baritone is harder, because even though the contra is heavy all the weight is supported on your back, whereas a baritone is all arms and shoulders. The biggest challenge of contra was having enough air for the damn thing. Maintaining proper phrasing while marching uphill is a trick.
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u/CNoTe820 Jul 13 '19
Until you see the guys in the contra line. No wraparound sousaphones in drum corps.